Fire-escape



(No Model.) I

H. JACOBS.

FIRE ESCAPE.

No. 582,426. Patented May 11, 1897.

A TTURIIEYJ.

1m: norms PETERS ca watauwu, wuumnmn. w. c

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEicE,

- HOMER JACOBS, OE GEORGETOWN, SOUTH CAROLINA.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 582,426, dated May 11,1897. Application filed August 18, 1896. Serial No. 603,114. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that -I,HOMER J AOOBS,a citizen of the United States,and aresident of Georgetown, in the county of Georgetown and State of SouthCarolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inFire-Escapes, of which the following is a specification, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof, in whichsimilar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts whereverfound in both views.

This invention relates to fire-escapes; and the object thereof is toprovide an improved device of this class which is simple in constructionand operation, while being well adapted to accomplish the result forwhich it is intended.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, ofwhich the accompanying drawings form a part, in which- Figure 1 is asectional side view of my improved fire-escape, showing the method ofits operation; and Fig. 2, a plan .view thereof.

In the practice of my invention I provide two segmental jaws 5 and 6,each of which is provided with a downwardly and outwardly directed arm7, and said jaws are connected at their upper ends by side links 8, twoof which are employed, said side links being connected with the oppositesides of the jaws by pivotal bolts or pins 9.

The inner or adjacent surfaces of the convex sides of the jaws 5 and 6are longitudinally grooved, as shown at 10, and the lower ends of thearms 7 of said jaws are connected by a rope, cord, or chain 11, which ispassed through holes 12, and mounted on said rope, cord, or chain 11 isahook or similar device 13.

Each of the jaws 5 and 6 is provided centrally thereof with transverseopenings 14, in each of which is mounted a roller 15, said rollers being.mounted on shafts 16, and one of said shafts is projected at one sideand provided with a crank 17 having a handle 18.

The operation will be readily understood from the foregoing descriptionwhen taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and thefollowing statement thereof.

A suitable rope 19 is suspended from any suitable support, such as theframe of a window or from the cornice of a building, and the end thereofis passed through the fire-escape or between the jaws 5 and 6, as shownin Fig. 1, and a basket or other device may be suspended from the hook13, and all that is necessary in order for a person to lower himselffrom a window or other elevated position is to step into said basket,which is suspended on the rope 19, and the jaws will slide down saidrope until they reach the ground. In order to produce this result, thecrank 17 must be turned in the direction of the arrow, and it will beapparent that the rollers 15 constitute the chief bearing upon saidrope, and as the crank 17 is turned these rollers will be turned also,and the operation will be readily understood, the jaws 5 and 6 movingdownwardly along the rope 19 as the crank 17 is turned.

The weight of the party upon the rope, cord, or chain 11 will be such asto draw the lower ends of the jaws 5 and 6 together so tightly that theywould not descend on the rope if it were not for the crank 17, and thespeed with which the device descends on the rope may therefore beregulated as desired or is entirely under the control of the party inthe basket or other support.

My invention is not limited to any particular means for suspending aperson from the rope, cord, or chain 11, and an ordinary waistbandconnected with the hook 13 will serve for this purpose.

This device is simple in construction and operation, while beingperfectly adapted to accomplish the result for which it is intended, andit is evident that changes in and modifications of the constructionherein described may be made without departing from the spirit of myinvention or sacrificing its advantages.

Having fully described my invention, I

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters- Patent- In a fire-escapetwo segmental jaws pivotally connected at their upper ends in such amanner that the convex sides thereof are directed inwardly, each of saidjaws being longitudinally grooved on its inner side, a grooved rollerjournaled centrally in each of the said jaws, a crank connection withthe shaft of one my invention I have signed my name, in presof saidrollers and said jaws being provided ence of the subscribing witnesses,this 1st day at their lower end with outwardly-curved of August, 1896.arms, a chain connecting said curved arms, 5 and a rope on which thejaws are adjustably Witnesses:

suspended, as set forth. HERMAN BRYAN,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as 1 JOHN CHARLES TAM'PLET.

HOMER JACOBS.

